The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) say that tickets are selling fast for their Industry Awards - with the 10th anniversary event being held on October 31 at the Hilton Metropole hotel at the Birmingham NEC, on the evening of the first day of SALTEX.

Celebrating the achievements of volunteer and professional grounds teams, as well as community clubs and national stadia, the awards will be hosted by Mark Saggers from talkSPORT radio, and comedian, writer and actor Tom Allen will be providing the after-dinner entertainment.

Tom will be presenting his unique style of sharp, acerbic wit and camp, as well as riotous storytelling to the audience of groundscare devotees and sports administrators and personalities.

He started as a stand-up comedian at the age of 22 and went on to win So You Think You’re Funny in Edinburgh and the BBC New Comedy Awards. He has since performed to audiences around the world and has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Mock the Week, The Great British Bake Off’s Extra Slice, Celebrity The Crystal Maze as well as the John Bishop Show, Channel 4’s Comedy Gala and Just a Minute.

To secure your seat at the event - which cost £95 each for IOG members and £190 each for non-members - contact the IOG by email (awards@iog.org) or call 01908 312 511 where you can also gain details of how to become an IOG member.